Story time (connected speech)
One day Sparky the star found a rabbit. Next to it was a rainbow and a robot. "Wow!" said Sparky. Then Sparky saw a rocket and a ring. What a great day!
R
American R /ɹ/
The American R. Consonantal R (rabbit), vocalic R (car, bird) and R blends (tree) are practised separately.
American English pronunciation model · voiced · tongue body (bunched or retroflex) · approximant · spellings: r, rr, wr
This page practises English sounds — the words and sentences stay in English on purpose.
Watch how to make this sound
/ɹ/ · American R sound
Articulation visual awaiting professional review — not yet checked by a speech and language therapist.
Voice on · feel the buzz · Airflow
Choose a comfortable bunched or curled-back tongue shape; keep the air flowing.
Both bunched and retroflex shapes are accepted. Neither is the only correct shape; the tongue does not seal the roof of the mouth.
Movement 1/3: Lips may round slightly
American R is voiced. In non-rhotic British accents, R after a vowel is often not pronounced unless a vowel follows. Practise the R your therapist recommends.
The camera view stays on this device. Nothing is recorded, saved or uploaded.
How to Make the Sound
/ɹ/
Voice switched ON
Put your hand on your throat — you should feel a buzz.
Remember it: Growly sound — like a quiet lion: rrr.
- Tongue
- There are two common tongue shapes for R (see below). In both, the sides of the tongue touch the top back teeth and the tongue tip does not touch the roof of the mouth.
- Lips and jaw
- Lips slightly rounded at the start of words; jaw slightly open.
- Air
- Voice flows smoothly over the tongue — no friction or tapping.
Step by step
- Smile slightly and round the lips a little.
- Pull your tongue back so the sides touch your top back teeth.
- Keep the tip off the roof of the mouth and turn your voice on — rrr.
More than one right way: R can be made with a "bunched" tongue (the middle of the tongue lifts) or a "retroflex" tongue (the tip curls up and back). Both are correct. Your therapist will help find the shape that works for your child.
British English R (Standard Southern British English)
- R is only said before a vowel: "red", "carrot", "tree".
- At the end of a syllable it is usually not pronounced: "car" sounds like "cah" and "bird" has no R sound.
- Do not teach a child with a British target accent to add an American-style R to words such as "car", "bird" or "teacher".
- Some British accents (for example in Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of South West England) do pronounce R after vowels. Follow your child's own accent.
- For British children, practise only the initial, medial (before a vowel) and blend word lists.
American English R
- American English is rhotic: R is pronounced wherever it is spelt, including after vowels ("car", "bird", "teacher").
- These after-vowel R sounds are called vocalic R and are practised separately from R at the start of words.
- The R treasure hunt game, vocalic R list and final R list on this site use American R and are labelled "American R".
Common difficulties and gentle help
- Sounds like /w/ ("wabbit" for "rabbit"). Many children do this. Keep the lips less rounded and focus on pulling the tongue back. It can be developmentally normal in younger children — ask your therapist whether to target it.
- Tongue tip taps or touches the roof. R should flow smoothly; keep the tip lifted but not touching.
Step up gradually
- 1. Sound on its own
- 2. Syllables
- 3. Words
- 4. Phrases
- 5. Sentences
- 6. Everyday talk
A sound can be easier on its own than in connected speech. Move on only when your child is saying it accurately and feels ready — not just because a worksheet is finished. Read the Parent Guide
1. Sound in isolation
/ɹ/
Tongue pulls back, sides touch the back teeth, growl like a tiger: rrr.
Hear yourself
This device can't record audio, so listening back isn't available here. Practise with the model sounds instead.
2. Syllables
ra
ree
ro
roo
ri
ara
eera
ora
ar
eer
or
Initial position
rabbit
/ɹ/ · initial
“a fluffy rabbit”
rainbow
/ɹ/ · initial
“a bright rainbow”
robot
/ɹ/ · initial
“a silly robot”
rocket
/ɹ/ · initial
“a fast rocket”
ring
/ɹ/ · initial
“a gold ring”
road
/ɹ/ · initial
“a long road”
rose
/ɹ/ · initial
“my rose”
rain
/ɹ/ · initial
“my rain”
rhino
/ɹ/ · initial
“my rhino”
raccoon
/ɹ/ · initial
“my raccoon”
radio
/ɹ/ · initial
“my radio”
rice
/ɹ/ · initial
“my rice”
rooster
/ɹ/ · initial
“my rooster”
ribbon
/ɹ/ · initial
“my ribbon”
wrench
/ɹ/ · initial
“my wrench”
Medial position
pirate
/ɹ/ · medial
“a pirate ship”
carrot
/ɹ/ · medial
“a crunchy carrot”
orange
/ɹ/ · medial
“my orange”
mirror
/ɹ/ · medial
“look in the mirror”
parrot
/ɹ/ · medial
“my parrot”
cherry
/ɹ/ · medial
“my cherry”
berry
/ɹ/ · medial
“my berry”
arrow
/ɹ/ · medial
“my arrow”
giraffe
/ɹ/ · medial
“my giraffe”
kangaroo
/ɹ/ · medial
“my kangaroo”
zero
/ɹ/ · medial
“my zero”
Final position — American R
car
/ɹ/ · final
“a red car”
star
/ɹ/ · final
“a shiny star”
bear
/ɹ/ · final
“a big bear”
chair
/ɹ/ · final
“my chair”
door
/ɹ/ · final
“open the door”
pear
/ɹ/ · final
“my pear”
guitar
/ɹ/ · final
“my guitar”
tiger
/ɹ/ · final
“my tiger”
flower
/ɹ/ · final
“a pretty flower”
fire
/ɹ/ · final
“my fire”
four
/ɹ/ · final
“my four”
deer
/ɹ/ · final
“my deer”
Blends
tree
/ɹ/ · in /tr/ blend
“a tall tree”
frog
/ɹ/ · in /fr/ blend
“a green frog”
crab
/ɹ/ · in /kr/ blend
“my crab”
truck
/ɹ/ · in /tr/ blend
“my truck”
train
/ɹ/ · in /tr/ blend
“my train”
drum
/ɹ/ · in /dr/ blend
“my drum”
grapes
/ɹ/ · in /gr/ blend
“my grapes”
bread
/ɹ/ · in /br/ blend
“my bread”
crown
/ɹ/ · in /kr/ blend
“my crown”
present
/ɹ/ · in /pr/ blend
“my present”
broccoli
/ɹ/ · in /br/ blend
“my broccoli”
dragon
/ɹ/ · in /dr/ blend
“my dragon”
pretzel
/ɹ/ · in /pr/ blend
“my pretzel”
Vocalic R — American R
bird
/ɹ/ · vocalic r
“my bird”
shirt
/ɹ/ · vocalic r
“my shirt”
corn
/ɹ/ · vocalic r
“my corn”
heart
/ɹ/ · vocalic r
“my heart”
turtle
/ɹ/ · vocalic r
“my turtle”
purple
/ɹ/ · vocalic r
“my purple”
horse
/ɹ/ · vocalic r
“my horse”
fork
/ɹ/ · vocalic r
“my fork”
girl
/ɹ/ · vocalic r
“my girl”
shark
/ɹ/ · vocalic r
“my shark”
worm
/ɹ/ · vocalic r
“my worm”
earth
/ɹ/ · vocalic r
“my earth”
Short phrases
- a fluffy rabbit
- a bright rainbow
- a silly robot
- a fast rocket
- a gold ring
- a long road
- my rose
- my rain
- my rhino
- my raccoon
- my radio
- my rice
Sentences
- The rabbit hops away.
- I can see the rainbow.
- I can see the robot.
- The rocket goes up!
- I can see the ring.
- I can see the road.
- I can see the rose.
- I can see the rain.
- I can see the rhino.
- I can see the raccoon.